TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1995//
TI  - Failure to thrive and the risk of child abuse: a prospective population survey
JO  - Journal of medical screening
A1  - Skuse, D. H.
A1  - Gill, D.
A1  - Reilly, S.
A1  - Wolke, D.
A1  - Lynch, M. A.
SP  - 145
EP  - 149
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the relative importance of failure to thrive during infancy as a risk factor for later abuse or neglect. DESIGN: Whole population birth cohort (1 January to 31 December 1986) studied prospectively over a four year period. SETTING: An inner city health district in London, England. SUBJECTS: 2609 births, of whom 47 were identified as having non-organic failure to thrive by first birthday. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Registration on Child Protection Register, or subject to investigation of suspected abuse or neglect without registration. RESULTS: 2.5% (64) of birth cohort had been placed on the Child Protection Register during the period 1986-1990, and a further 1.2% (32) had been a cause for concern. The relative risk attributable to non-organic failure to thrive was 4.3 (95% CI 1.65 to 11.94) and exceeded other measured risk factors, including birth weight < 2500 g, 1.96 (95% CI 1.01 to 3.82); gestation < 35 weeks, 3.26 (95% CI 1.32 to 3.75); ordinal position > or = 4, 1.53 (95% CI 0.72 to 3.23). A multiple logistic regression confirmed the independent contribution of non-organic failure to thrive to subsequent poor parenting warranting professional intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Early postnatal non-organic failure to thrive is a risk factor for later serious parenting deficiencies, but previous research has overstated its importance. Within the community studied the nature of subsequent risk was (non-nutritional) neglect, rather than non-accidental injury. More than eight out of 10 cases do not give further cause for concern.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0969-1413
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -